This translates to, “Always To Be Close To You With All My Love” – and is marked “M”.

Farrokh Bulsara was the star’s real name. He changed it after forming Queen in 1971.

Fans reckon “M” could be his ex-lover Mary Austin, who inherited his £10million home, Garden Lodge.

Freddie’s ashes are believed to have been given to her after his cremation, but she has never revealed what became of them.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Freddie’s estate declined to comment.

Fans believe they may have solved the mystery of Freddie Mercury's final resting place (Image: James Eisen)

It’s not clear clear when the plaque – fixed to a tall plinth – was put in place. Cemetery workers had no idea the dates and name matched the late Queen star.

According to the Kensal Green Cemetery website, bronze plaques “can be provided for those whose cremated remains have been strewn in the Scattering Garden”. One Queen fan said: “Everyone knows Freddie was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery in 1991 but it has remained a complete mystery as to where his ashes were finally laid to rest.

“According to some biographies, his ashes weren’t even collected from Kensal Green for over a year following his cremation. The discovery of this plaque is really exciting and may prove to be a major breakthrough.”

Mary, referred to by bisexual Freddie as his “wife”, inherited the vast bulk of the star’s lucrative song rights. Queen sold 300million albums worldwide and had a string of hit singles, including ­Bohemian Rhapsody.

The singer’s former partner Jim Hutton said in 1994 his ashes may be buried at Garden Lodge in Kensington, West London.

He said: “It’s become something of a riddle, but I’m pretty sure his final resting place is at the foot of the weeping cherry tree overlooking the whole place.”

Other resting place theories include Zanzibar, where he was born, or scattered on the shore of Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland, where he had a flat and a statue of him stands.